GRANDY, N.C. - The body of a man missing in Currituck Sound since he left a boat to swim on Saturday has been found in a marsh.

Michael Earl Wilson, 38, of Grandy, drowned while trying to swim in about 8 feet of water in the Currituck Sound off Walnut Island, said Fred Hampton, a North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission enforcement officer.

The Wilsons and a friend, Jimmy Lee Chambers of Manteo, took a 24-foot boat into the sound to swim. Michael Wilson and Chambers were swimming about 6 p.m. when the boat began to drift away in the wind faster than the men could swim, Hampton said.

Rebecca Wilson unsuccessfully tried to throw life jackets into the wind. She threw a rope, which Chambers was able to reach, and he got back into the boat.

Rebecca Wilson gunned the boat, throwing Chambers overboard but with the rope still wrapped on his arm, Hampton said. Chambers injured his ribs and his knee in the fall, and the rope severely chafed his arm.

After interviewing Rebecca Wilson, authorities believe she was headed with Chambers to shore for help, Hampton said.

The body was found just over a mile south from where Michael Wilson was last seen.

Ha here are like 6 things that if they had done any one of them nobody would have died. Unfortunately it doesn't take brains to become a boater, only money and even stupid people have that.

wear a life jacket
use the anchor in water with a current
have an experienced boat driver
don't smoke pot and boat
don't smoke pot and swim
and most importantly, don't put your wife in a position to chose between you and your 38 year old friend